Another World | NejiTen

Chapter 43 | A Talk

Author's Note: I apologize for not updating in like a month (no, scratch that, like 2-3 months) ;-;. If this chapter is short to you I'm sorry but the next chappy will most likely be long because it concludes their project/vacation.

Note: I'm going to do a time skip because I've never been to Miami so I'm legit clueless about the activities to write. Apologies. :/

There will only be a few chapters left of this book. :3

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Tenten woke up to the sunlight streaming through the uncovered glass windows. Her head rested on the soft, cream-colored pillow. She gave a yawn, stretching out her arms before grabbing her phone off the nightstand. The time read 9:34 in the morning. The brunette surveyed the room, her eyes landing on Neji, who was sitting on a seat by the window with his computer in his lap.

"Good morning," Tenten mumbled, yawning again before setting her phone down on the nightstand. 

"Good morning," Neji replied, his eyes still glued to his computer.

It had been a few days since they'd arrived in Miami. Between the time they'd arrived and now, they did a few activities each day. Each night, they'd take turns typing up what they'd did into a document for their essay, and before they knew it, around a week had passed already. 

Yesterday night, Ino had declared today a girls-only day because everyone agreed they needed some girl time. She had said to meet near the smoothie bar, once again. 

Tenten grabbed a pair of denim shorts and a black tank top, also grabbing a two-piece swimsuit to wear underneath in case they happened to go swimming. After changing in the bathroom, she grabbed a small, black waterproof bag with a wrist strap, placing her phone and wallet inside. Her room card was tucked inside her wallet. Once she slipped on a pair of black flip flops, she headed out of the hotel room, shutting the door behind her.

When Tenten made it to the smoothie bar, she saw Hinata and Sakura already there. Ino and Temari were not yet there. 

"...we're like oil and water," Sakura groaned, exasperated. 

"I-It's ok, Sakura," Hinata said in her soft voice, trying to comfort her friend, but the pinkette only groaned in reply.

"I have another, like, week to endure!" Sakura cried out, burying her face in her hands.

Tenten wanted to comfort Sakura, but she was worried and confused about the emotions she felt herself. So instead, she turned her head to face the ocean and stared at the shimmering blue water, lost in thought. 

Ino and Temari soon met up with them at the smoothie bar. "So, how's life been?" Ino asked the girls as they walked to a more empty area on the sandy beach. They had been keeping in touch through text and a few exchanged words throughout the week, but the majority of time spent was with their project partners.

"Horrendous," Sakura muttered.

Temari gave a sigh and rolled her eyes. "Sakura, it couldn't be that bad," She murmured.

Hinata patted her friend on the shoulder before murmuring with a tint of red on her cheeks, "N-Naruto and I have been getting along pretty well."

"Neji and I have been getting along fine," Tenten said, staring off into space. She tried to push her feelings she felt around Neji aside but the more she attempted to ignore them the more they would bother her. It was causing her to worry.

"...so, how does that sound?" Ino finished.

"What-" Tenten asked, snapping out of her thoughts.

"Did you all hear what I said?" Ino asked, raising an eyebrow.

"What was that?" 

"Hmm?"

"Y-Yes?" 

"Besides Temari, you all weren't even listening," The platinum blonde sighed. "Alright, spill the tea. What's going on?"

"Nothing," Tenten, Sakura, and Hinata mumbled at the same time. 

Ino gave the three a suspicious glance before heaving yet another sigh. "You know y'all can talk to all of us about anything, right? Despite being extremely loud-mouthed, I can keep a secret. It's like a girl thing between us five."

Sakura's eyes strayed from the girls, wandering down to her sandals she wore as her gaze settled there. "Sasuke and I almost never get along, but despite that I think I've regained feelings for him."

The other girls' eyes widened, while Ino let out an excited squeal before taking a deep breath, announcing, "Ok, I'm calm now," She raised a curious eyebrow at this newfound information. "Why and how did this happen though?"

The pinkette groaned in frustration, shrugging, "I don't know...Sasuke is just so- ugh, I cant describe it! He's just...he's himself and that alone is just enough to make me fall for him all over again."

"I can say the same about Neji," Tenten grumbled to herself, causing four pairs of eyes to land sharply on her. "Um, did I say that out loud-"

"Yep," Temari chirped, smirking.

The girls went silent for a few seconds before...Ino let out yet another excited squeal. 

"NOW TWO OF MY SHIPS ARE ABOUT TO SAIL, YAY!" She exclaimed happily, hopping up and down like an eager child on Christmas morning. After a bit of cheering, the platinum blonde reassured them, "Ok, I'm calm now." She took a deep breath. "The ships will sail if all goes well. Anyways, what about you Hinata? Anything happened between you and Naruto?"

"N-Naruto has been really sweet to m-me," Hinata began to say softly, twiddling her two pointer fingers together with a light blush on her face, "I-I think there may be s-something going on between u-us t-two."

"Aww," The other girls chorused, all except Ino, who instead decided to let out her third excited squeal.

"NOW THREE OF MY SHIPS ARE ABOUT TO SAIL, OH MY GOODNESS!" The platinum blonde screeched, running around the group of girls in quick circles and causing a few random people enjoying their time on the beach to glance their way.

The girls all chuckled at the scene before Sakura asked, "So what have you been up to Ino?"

Ino paused and thought for a moment before a blush formed on her cheeks. "I- um..."

"'Um' what, Ino-pig?" The pinkette asked with a curious look on her face.

"I met a guy on the beach named Sai. He's an artist and he's really sweet, different from everyone I dated in the past," Ino said softly, gazing at the ocean.

"Aww, Ino's fallen for someone," Temari teased with a grin.

"Just like the rest of us have," Sakura mumbled. "This project is really something."

It really is, Tenten thought, staring off into the distance.